Spiritual Iran Tour

Spiritual Iran Tour

Spiritual Iran Tour

Mashhad is Iran’s holiest city in northeast of the country. It’s where the Imam Reza, the eighth Shite Imman, died and whose tomb is now the holiest pilgrimage site for Shite Muslims. The circular shrine complex houses Goharshad Mosque of the Timurid period built in Samarkand style. To the north, is the tomb and mausoleum of Nader Shah, dedicated to the founder of the Afshar dynasty, topped with a statue of him on horseback.

Iranian culture and literature, is mixed with Sufism and mysticism. The dominance of Sufism over the national life and history of Iran is undeniable and Sufi thinking has become an integral part of Iranians thinking. However, there is a difference of opinion about the effects of Sufism in the historical life of Iranian nation. Some, blame Sufism for all religious and cultural backwardness while others believe that the spread of Islam as a global religion is indebted to Sufism.

Day 1 – ArriveMashhad After rest, visit IMAM REZA Shrine, the most sacred place in Iran. Shiite people from around the world get together in this vast and spectacular shrine as pilgrim and also tourist. Imam Reza was the eighth Imam of Shia and one of the holiest figures for Muslims.
Overnight hotel of your choice.

Day 2 – Iran's Literary DestinationNeyshabour In the morning we have an excursion to Neyshabour to visit Khayyam & Attar mausoleums. Neyshabour is a top literary destination of Iran. Omar Khayyam, a well known philosopher, mathematician and poet of the 12th century famous for his profound philosophical ideas was buried here as well as Attar, a great Iranian mystic and a prolific writer on mysticism of 12th century.
Overnight hotel of your choice (B)

Day 3 – TransferBastam Today we drive to Bastam in Semnan Province. Bastam is a small town, the burial place of Bayazid Bastami, a highly revered mystic and master sufi of 9th century. He introduced the concepts of Shur or Wajd, a means of self-annihilation in the divine presence of God. His shrine draws many Sufis and other visitors from around Iran and even beyond.
Overnight hotel of your choice (B)

Day 4 – Hike in Abr ForestBastam In the morning we drive to Abr Forest (Abr means cloud). It is one of the most scenic natural settings in Iran where you can enjoy a peaceful walk over the clouds and through a thin forest. Enjoy picnic lunch, which is also a national hobby. After lunch we visit Sheikh Kharaqani Shrine, a 10th century Master Sufi with deep knowledge of Quran and Hadith, despite his illiteracy.
Overnight hotel of your choice (B)

Day 5 – TransferTehran Drive to Tehran. En route we visit city of Damqan. In Damqan we see Tarikhane Mosque, Pir Almdar Tower and Chehel Dokhtaran Tower. Tarikhane Mosque is known as the oldest mosque in Iran going back to 8th century. It may have been a fire temple at Sassanid era. Pir Almdar Tower enjoys an exemplary architecture of a mausoleum. Chehel Dokhtaran (meaning forty girls) is an old monument where as the story goes, 40 girls become ascetics and took refuge. The tower has now become a place of respect for single young ladies.
Overnight hotel of your choice (B)

Day 6 – City Highlights TourTehran With your private guide and driver, visit the Golestan Palace, and the former residence of the last Shah of Iran at Sa'ad-Abad Palace and Museum Complex and State Jewels Museum with an impressive collection of some of the most famous and spectacular jewels in the world. The collection of gemstones, jewellery, royal emblems, ornamental guns and jewel-encrusted furniture is impressive. The majority of the items on display were given to Safavid kings as gifts but many pieces taken by Nader Shah on his conquest of India are also exhibited. These include the Darya-e Nur diamond, The Peacock Throne and the Jewelled Globe. Other pieces include the crowns of the Qajar and Pahlavi Kings.
Overnight hotel of your choice (B)

Day 7 – Via SoltaniyehZanjan Drive to Zanjan via Soltaniyeh. The city of Soltaniyeh, the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty, was founded by the Mongols. Soltaniyeh is one of the outstanding examples of the achievements of Persian architecture and a key monument in the development of its Islamic architecture. The octagonal building is crowned with a 50 m tall dome covered in turquoise-blue faience and surrounded by eight slender minarets. It is the earliest existing example of the double-shelled dome in Iran. Upon arrival to Zanjan in the afternoon we will visit Rakhtshoor-khaneh, Jameh mosque, its two pleasant teahouses and fantastic bazaar.
Overnight hotel of your choice (B)

Day 8 – City TourArdabil Today we drive to Ardabil to visit Sheikh Safi and Sheikh Jebreil shrines. Sheikh Safi Shrine is a world heritage site. Sheikh Safi, a Master Sufi of 13th and 14th century, was the founder of Safavi order and the great ancestor of Safavid kings. His shrine is highly important in artistic and architectural sense and the principals of Sufism have been manifested in its architecture. Sheikh Jebreil was the father of Sheikh Safi and a Sufi himself.
Overnight hotel of your choice (B)

Day 9 – Archaeological Museum TourTabriz Drive to Tabriz. In Tabriz we visit Blue Mosque, a wonderful mosque known as the turquoise of Islam due to its numerous blue tiles. Close to Blue Mosque there is Azerbaijan Museum, the second most important archaeological museum of Iran after National Museum in Tehran. The last but not the least site is Grand Bazaar, a world heritage site and the largest roofed bazaar in the world.
Overnight hotel of your choice (B)

Day 10 – DepartTabriz Transfer to Tehran and connect with your international flight.

Spiritual Iran TourIran

Make this your holiday

Exclusive Tour: your own private multilingual guide throughout the trip

Price Guarantee: costing 25-30% less than similar tours of the same flexibility and quality

Tailor Made: customised itinerary to create your dream holiday

Duration: shorten or lengthen the tour to suit your wishes

Dates: depart and return whenever you choose

Hotels: change hotel grade to suit your budget

Group Discounts: call 020 8350 6199

When to go Visits to the south coast of Iran are best made in the winter months of December, January and February when humidity and heat levels are at their lowest, while spring (March to mid-May) and autumn (mid-September and October) are the best times to travel around central and northern Iran. Tourists visit Iran during the summer months (June - September) for the sunshine and regional festivals, and during the winter months (November - March) for skiing. So no matter what time you choose to go, Iran is a great place to travel all year round.

Getting There The vast majority of travellers fly to Tehran and return from there but some travellers end their trip in Shiraz, saving some backtracking. Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA) sees most of Iran’s international air traffic. It’s small, so delays are possible. Elsewhere, Shiraz, Esfahan, Bandar Abbas and Kish are (in that order) potentially useful arrival or departure points. Iran Air, the government-owned carrier, it offers service with an Islamic flavour (ie no pork, no alcohol).

Visa British nationals need a visa to travel to Iran. You should lodge your visa application with the Iranian Embassy in the UK, well in advance of your date of travel. The application process for an Iranian visa can be long and unpredictable.
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